Receptacle cleaning apparatus



May 2,1933 .J. E. WILKES v RECEPTACLE CLEANING APPARATUS 4 sheets-sheet 1 I Mentor:

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Filed April 19, 1929 May-'2, 1933. J. E. WILKES RECEPTACLE CLEANING APPARATUS v Filed April 19, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 4 Inde Zor2m Jhnzwz ares;

May 2, 1933.

J. E. WILKES RECEPTACLE CLEANING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 lvillalli Filed April 19, 1929 Patented May 2, 1933 UNITED STATES JOHN E. WILKES, 0F PAULSBOBO, NEW JERSEY RECEP'I'ACLE CLEANING APPARATUS Application filed April 19,

This invention relates to apparatus for cleaning barrels or other receptacles.

Receptacles or containers, such as metallic barrels as used for the transportation of certain grades of oil, must be completely free from rust and scale. It has been discovered that such scale can be removed by causing frictional engagement between a metallic abrasive material, such for instance as a steel or brass chain, and the inner walls or surfaces of the container. Many attempts have been made heretofore to provide an apparatus so constructed as to facilitate such cleansing abrasion by-agitation, but so far as known they have been without appreciable success.

Factors which must be accorded consideration in any proper solution of the problem include; the weight of the container to be treated; the fact that it must be susceptible of quick and easy insertion and removal from the apparatus; and the necessity that the relative motion of the container and the contained abrasive element be so pronounced as to cause the actual abrading cleansing stroke, without setting up destructive periodic vibrations such as will wrack the apparatus and prevent its proper functioning.

Among the objects of this invention are; to improve the construction of receptacle cleaning apparatus; to provide a receptacle cleaning apparatus in which containers to be treated may be expeditiously inserted and removed from the apparatus; to provide an apparatus in which a receptacle is supported and simultaneously given a horizontal reciprocation while being horizontally oscillated; to provide a receptacle cleaning apparatus of such construction that the inertia of the contained receptacle is utilized to establish a periodic, harmonic, reciprocation; to eliminate from barrel washing apparatus, dash-pots, recoil checks and similar devices heretofore necessary in certain types of barrel washers; to provide in a receptacle cleaner means for supporting a receptacle during a reciprocating movement thereof, in various adjusted position so as to facilitate contacting and cleansing abrasion upon all parts of the receptacle;

' to reduce the power formerly necessary-to operate receptacle cleaning apparatus; to pro- REISSUED vide means for oscillating a receptaclein a substantially horizontal plane with a natural periodic, harmonic, oscillation, with power means geared to drive the mechanism at the natural periodic rate of speed thereof, and many other objects and advantages as will become more apparent as the description proceeds.

In carrying out the invention in the preferred form, arcuate runners or rockers are provided upon which a receptacle holding cradlcis journaled at a point below the axis of the periphery of the runners, so that oscillation of the receptacle support upon the runners causes the receptacle support to risetoward the 1929. Serial No. 356,473.

ends of its reciprocation, whereby the weight of the receptacle is utilized to damp and check the reciprocation towards the ends of its stroke and also whereby the weight of the receptacle causes the inception of a return reciprocation, and thus establishes a natural jeriodic pendulum action for the apparatus. Power means is provided which is so timed as to correspond with this natural periodic pendulum oscillation as to reduce the power needed to a minimum. Means are provided for varying the angular disposition of the receptacle with relation to the runners or rockers mechanically or under the manual control of the operator, and, preferably a'step by step mechanism is provided by which the receptacle is caused to rotate about its longitudinal axis to present the entire area of the receptacle to the abrading action. 7

In the accompanying drawings forming part of the specification:

Fig. 1 represents a top plan of the assembled device.

Fig. 2 represents an elevation of one side of the device.

Fig. 3 represents an elevation of the other side of the device partially broken away.

Fig. 4 represents a fragmentary end elevation partially broken away of the gearing,

associated with one trunnion of the apparatus.

Fig. 5 represents an elevation partially in section of the inner framework supporting the receptacle disclosing the step by step feed mechanism.

Fig. 6 represents a vertical section through the framework disclosing the head clamping device and the step by step feed element.

ig. 7 represents a fragmentary top plan of the'other head clamping elements disclosing the relationship of the toggle mechanism with the frame.

Fig. 8 represents a vertical section through theframe with the toggle mechanism shown in elevation.

Fig. 9 represents a fragmentary horizontal section through the toggle mechanism and framework.

Fig. 10 represents a fragmentary detail showing the relationship of the detachable handle and the toggle assembly with the adjusted position thereof indicated by dotted lines.

Fig. 11 represents a perspective View of the handle.

Fig. 12 represents a diagrammatic view of the progressive movements of the receptacle on a transverse diametric horizontal axis while being moved as a unit in an arcuate path.

A base A is provided having preferably an end plate (10) perpendicular to and extending laterally of a pair of rails or tracks (11) mounted upon the base. Seated in the grooves of the rails (11 are the arcuate runners or rockers (12) and (13) respectively. The axis of rotation of each of the arcuate runners is located at point (l lfioetween which and the contacting arcuate surface of the runner are located bearings (15) rigidly mounted upon the respective side plates (16) which in turn are either integral with the respective runners (12) and (13) or may be made separate therefrom, but rigidly affixed to the runners as by bolts (9). It will be observed that, owing to the disposition of the bearings relative to the curved arcuate surfaces and the rockers, and relative to the axis of rotation thereof, movement of the entire framework so far described upon the rails in a rocking motion, causes the bearings to follow a path slightly arcuate and thus to move gently upwardly at the ends of the reciprocating stroke, as, to the points indicated at (17) in Fig. 2. Thus through substantially one half of the reciprocating stroke, the weight, supported and centered in the hearings, will in effect be moving down hill, while during the other half of the stroke substantially, the: weight, centered in the hearings, will be moving upwardly against the influence of gravity, thus retarding, damping or slowing down the reciprocation.

It will be clear, with the structure so far described, that upon a rocking motion being transmitted to the apparatus, a pendulum action will ensue, causing the apparatus to rock back and forth upon the rails in a natural, periodic action. In the absence of power impulses, of course, the apparatus will gradually slow down under the influence of friction and other forms of resistance. It will be clear, that, with the natural periodic reciprocation thus established, a minimum of power will be required to cause this action to be continued and sustained through the natural periodic oscillation of the apparatus.

It has been found with a metal receptacle reciprocated substantially in a plane passing through its longitudinal axis, that the termination of the reciprocation must be quite abrupt in order to cause the contained abrasive element to longitudinally slide with a grinding stroke across the inner surface of the barrel, by its inertia. Unfortunately, as previously practiced such abrupt termination establishes such factors of vibration and shock as to wrack the entire apparatus and render it noisy and short lived.

In view of the natural, easy and gradual termination of each of the reciprocating strokes in a cradle arrangement as disclosed, it has been found advisable to enhance the natural tendency of the contained abrasive to slide sharply to the end of the barrel, or other receptacle, at the end of the reciprocation, by imparting in effect, a whip like action thereto. This has been accomplished by causing the receptacle or barrel to oscillate on an axis transverse to its path of reciprocaton as it approaches each end of its reciprocating stroke so that, although the center of the barrel is more or less imperceptibly raised at the ends of the reciprocating stroke one end of the barrel is swung sharply down and the other end swung sharply up, to present an inclined surface to the abrasive element down which it may slide with certainty and with a maximum of cleaning efficiency. This desirable result is attained through the novel means to be described, and is an incident to and result of the continued reciprocating motion of the apparatus.

The bearings (15) provide bearings for the gudgeons (18) and (20) respectively, preferably integrally attached to a rectangular frame (21), in which the receptacle (19) is supported during the cleansing operation, as will be further described. Gudgeon (18) is preferably a solid shaft upon which friction drum (22) is keyed and with which the adjustable friction element or band (23) is engaged. The friction drum (22) is keyed to the shaft or gudgeon 18) so that the rectangular frame (21) and the friction drum rotate or oscillate together. Loosely journaled on the shaft (18) is a vertical link (24) having a laterally extending pin (25) engaging a yoke formed at the bottom of the adjustable friction element or band (23) as at (26) (Fig.4). A beveled gear (27) is keyed or splined to the shaft (18) in mesh with a cooperating pinion gear (28) mounted upon the vertical shaft (30). The vertical shaft (30) is journaled in bearings formed in sides of link (24) as at (31) and (32). At its lower end the link (24) is pivot ally connected to a horizontal link (33) pivotally connected in turn at (34) to a vertical post (35) rigidly mounted upon the base A. The lower end-of the link (24) carries a transverse shaft (36) carrying a gear (37) loosely journalecl on the shaft and connected to the lost motion connection or clutch (38) carrying a sprocket gear (40). Pinion 37 is in mesh with a cooperating pinion gear (41) keyed to the lower end of the vertical shaft (30). Post (35) carries a rotatable sprocket gear (42) having a handle (43) by which itmay be turned and connected by the links of a chain (44) to the sprocket gear (40). At its end, link (33) is held pivotally by the post (35).

Reciprocation of the apparatus so far described upon its rockers or runners will cause the bearings (the center of gravity of the barrel) to travel forward and back on an arcuate path departing but little from a horizontal plane, and through the frictional engagement of the drum on shaft (18) with its cooperating clamping portion (23) engaged at the lower end by the pin (25) the rectangular frame will be oscillated in the bearings (15) and the barrel or receptacle will thus be inclined from the horizontal at each end of its reciprocating stroke. Obviously the extent of its inclination will be varied according to the distance of the pivoted connection between links (33) and (24) and the axis of the bearings. The lost motion connection between the sprocket gear (40) and the pinion gear (37) is adequate to remove any pressure on the gears incident to such oscillation. It being desirable to support the barrel in various positions relative the horizontal, such for instance as in a position wherein the head of the barrel is to be abraded the chain and sprocket gearing disclosed is arranged so that the rectangular frame may be moved to any desired position by turning sprocket (42) by means of its handle (43), without stopping the machine.

Although manual control of the device for adjusting the barrel or other receptacle is preferred, it is to be noted that other means of control are contemplated.

It has been attempted in the past to secure a cleansing or abrasive action by supporting a barrel in a framework which was continuously rotated about its axis, and in which the abrasive element tumbled. This was not satisfactory as the abrasive element had but an intermittent contact with the inner surface of the barrel, and the cleansing operation had to be continued for such a length of time as to be commercially impracticable in order to even approximately abrade the entire inner surface of the barrel. Such devices have also been accompanied by gearing, causing a continuous rotation of the'barrel about its longitudinal axis which, while designed to expose the entire internal area of the barrel progressively to the tumbling abrasive element, simply increased the hit or miss action of the abras ve.

The invention, herein, contemplates a progrcssive stop by step rotation of the barrel or other receptacle during its reciprocating actions and at the ends of a reciprocating stroke. The distance the barrel is rotated by progressive impulses, is preferably co-ordinated with the normal area of the abrading element within the barrel so that the. entire area is abraded in the shortest possible time and with the least number of reciprocations.

In the preferred form of the mechanism for securing the step by step rotation of the barrel, a shaft (44) is journaled within the tubular gudgeon (20) extending to the inner surface of the rectangular frame (21) adjacent the gudgeon, and carries a star cam wheel or element (45). The outer end of shaft (44) is keyed to a link (46) which in turn is pivoted to the upstanding post (47) which is pivotally connected at (48) to the base A, as shown in Fig. 2. The cam (45) is preferably provided with four radially extended dwells (50) joined by aconcave riding surface (51). At one end of the rectangular framework (21), a vertical slotted guideway (52) is mounted in which a latch element or pawl support (53) is arranged for vertical sliding relation. The pawl carrying element has the pivoted dog or pawl (54) spring pressed in such manner as by spring (49) as to bear substantially tangentially upon the rotatable toothed barrel engaging head (55). The arrangement is such that as the pawl carrler slides downwardly in its guides, the pawl (54) engages behind a tooth (56) of the toothed receptacle support (55) and rotates the receptacle on its longitudinal axis. Movement of the pawl carrying element in the opposite direction, permits the pawl (54) to ride over the next tooth to engage said tooth upon the next succeeding downward stroke.

In order to effect successive upward and downward strokes of the pawl carrying element, a lever (57) is pivoted at a desired point (58) to the rectangular frame (21) and has a hearing as by means of a roller (60) upon the concave surface (51) of the cam (45), maintained by resilient means such as a spring (39).

It will be clear that as the rectangular frame (21)-is swung on the bearings (15) it will also move relative to the star wheel or cam (45) and thus cause the roller end of the lever (57) to ride up on the dwells and down into a concavity between the dwells, and thus through its pivotal connection (59) with the pawl carrying element (53) cause the latter to slide up and down in its slot and thus progressively advance the barrel or other receptacle on its longitudinal axis.

It will be clear in this connection, that the operating mechanism disclosed, although it is preferred, is subject to considerable modification. It is of importance furthermore, to note that the step by step rotation of the barrel is incidental to, and a result of, the reciprocation of the barrel.

It is contemplated that means may be provided to shift or variably dispose the pivotal connection (58) with relation to the lever (57) and to the rectangular framework (21) in order to vary the extent of movement of the dog or pawl and thus to vary the degree of rotation for each stroke.

In order to frictionally or positively mount the barrel in operative position in the rectangular framework (21) in a manner which will permit of the instantaneous looking or unlocking thereof, it is desirable that although one head or head clamping device, such as one designated as (55) be fixed axially (although suitably journaled for free rotation), the other clamping head (61) may be made adjustable and movable so as to facilitate the insertion and removal of the barrel. This is accomplished in the expeditious manner to be described. As disclosed in Fig. 6, one head clamping element and preferably both thereof, comprises a resilient spider made up of hub (62), spring arms (63), engaging a flanged rim (64) of such size as to accommodate the end of the barrel. The movable head (61) has the hub (62) rigidly mounted upon a spindle or shank (65) rotatably disposed in a cylinder (66), in turn longitudinally slidable in the rectangular frame (21) and guided therein against rotation by a longitudinal rib or key (59). The cylinder (66) carries oppositely disposed ears or lugs (67) and is provided with a lost motion connection with the shank (65) by means of a bolt (68) threaded into the shank and having a head (69) engaging the upper end of plug (49) in the end of the cylinder. The antifriction bearing (70) permits free rotation of shank (65) relative the cylinder (66). It is to be understood that pressure on the end of shank (65) elevates the head (69) of the bolt from contact with the plug of the cylinder. Rigidly mounted upon the frame (21) are the ears or lugs (71) extending parallel to lugs (67). Toggle links (72) and (73) are journaled on the respective lugs (71) and (67) and are pivotally connected by the stud (74) also extending beyond the toggle links to form a lug in parallelism with lugs (71) affixed to the rectangular frame. Oppositely disposed stop pins (75) project from the rectangular frame (21) in close proximity to, but slightly spaced from. the edges of links (72) and (73) when they are in longitudinal alinement andserve as stops against which the toggle links abut when they are beyond dead center, and in which position they are held through the resilience of the spring arms (63) of the head clamping element.

In order to move the clamping head from and toward its clamping position upon the head of the barrel, a tool is provided having a handle (76) and terminating in a yoke (77) the legs of which are offset at an angle to the line of the handle preferably, as at (78) and in which an elongated slot (80) is arranged to slide over and engage simultaneously lugs (71) and (7 4) on the respective sides of frame (21). The arrangement of the tool and the toggle link connection is such that pressure on the handle (76) using links (71) as fulcrums, will exert pressure on studs (74) sufiicient to move the toggle links away from the stop pins (75) and swing the pivot points of the toggle links substantially to the level of the fulcrum studs, thus moving the clamping head up and away from thehead of the barrel or other receptacle. The handle arrangement has a further great utility in that it may remain in position and through its leverage and the weight of the tool being soporportioned to cause the result, the barrel clamping head will remain in its raised position while the operator is removing the clean barrel and substituting one which is to be cleaned.

In order to reduce and practically to preclude sliding movement of the runners or rockers on their respective rails, a crank lever (81) is preferably provided on each side of the apparatus, the upper end of which is rigidly connected to its appropriate runner or rocker (12) or (13), at a point above its arcuate edge and the free end of which depends to a point slightly below the plane of the rails. Links (82) are pivotally connected to the lower ends of the crank levers (81) and pass through openings in the end plate (10) in which they are resiliently mounted by means of compression springs 3) and (84), the tension of which is controlled by nuts (85) and (86). This assembly reduces vibration, precludes slippage in starting the device and facilitates the smooth and even running of the apparatus.

The natural periodic pendulum action of the apparatus having been determined, such as by the number of oscillations per minute for instance, it remains but to couple the apparatus with power means so geared as to transmit impulses co-ordinated with the natural periodic movement of the apparatus as vto insure a smoothl running lon lived efiicient apparatus for the purpose. To this end connecting rods (87) are connected at appropriate points upon runners (12) and (13) or the side plates (16), which are driven by suitable crank pins (88) mounted on a crank disc (90) driven by a pulley (91) and belting (92) extending to a suitable source of power.

The belting and pulley is preferred al,

though obviously a motor or other power means, may be directly connected to drive the crank disc (90). As the power necessary is slight, in View of the assistance derived from the natural periodic reciprocation of the device, it is perfectly possible to drive the mechanism manually, as for instance by the frame for supporting a receptacle at the ends thereof, bearings for rotatably mounting the rectangular frame disposed substantially coincident with a diametric transverse axis of said receptable, means for reciprocating the hearings in an arcuate path longitudinal of the receptacle, a lever operatively connected through one of said bearings with the rectangular frame and a link pivotally connected with said lever at one end, and the other end of said link being relatively fixed whereby reciprocation of the bearings causes oscillation of the rectangular frame there- 1n.

:2. In a receptacle cleaning apparatus, a frame, a rotatable clamping head slidable with relation to the frame, toggle links connecting the clamping head and the frame, portable manual means engaging the toggle links for moving the head. and a stop lug mounted in the path of said toggle links to sustain pressure from the toggle links upon their movement bevond dead center, and resilient means for imparting pressure endwise of the toggle links.

3. In a receptacle cleaning apparatus, in combination a base, guiding elements mounted on the base in parallel spaced relation, an oscillatable device comprising side members carrying bearings in axial alinement transversely of the guiding elements, and arcuate rockers mounted on the guiding elements in operative relation to the said elements and carrying said members, a frame journaled in the bearings and adapted to removably receive a receptacle, means for causing reciprocation of the device on the guide elements With a harmonic motion, and means responsive to movement of the device for oscillating the frame in the bearings and thus inclining the receptacle at a predetermined portion of its reciprocating movement.

4. In a receptacle cleaning apparatus. in combination a. base,-guiding elements mounted on the base in parallel spaced relation, an

oscillatable device comprising side members carrying bearings in axial alinement, and

arcuate rockers mounted on the guiding elements in operative relation to the said elements and carrying said members, a frame journaled in the bearings and adapted to removably and rotatably receive a receptacle, means for causing reciprocation of the device on the guide elements with a harmonic motion, and additional means responsive to such reciprocation for imparting a progressive step by step rotation to the receptacle in the frame.

5. In a receptacle cleaning apparatus, in

combination a base, guiding elements mounted on the base in parallel spaced relation, an oscillatable device comprising side members carrying bearings in axial ali'nement transversely of the guiding elements, and arcuate rockers mounted on the guiding elements in operative relation to the said elements and carrying said members, a frame journaled in the bearings and adapted to removably receive a receptacle, means for causing reciprocation of the device on the guide elements with a harmonic motion, and supple mental means for varying the relative angular position of the frame and the device regardless of the reciprocation thereof.

6. In a receptacle cleaning apparatus, in combination a base, guiding elements mounted on the base in parallel spaced relation, an oscillatable device comprising side members carrying bearings in axial alinement, and arcuate rockers mounted on the guiding elements in operative relation to the said elements and carrying said members, a frame journaled in the bearings and adapted to removably and rotatably receive a receptacle, means for causing reciprocation of the device on the guide elements with a harmonic motion, means responsive to movement of the device for oscillating the frame in its bearings and thus inclining the receptacle at a predetermined portion of its reciprocating movement, additional means responsive to such-reciprocation for imparting a progressive step by step rotation to the receptacle in the frame, and supplemental means for varying the relative angular position of the frame and the device, regardless of the reciprocation thereof.

7. In a receptacle cleaning apparatus, a reciprocating support, a frame journalled on the support on an axis transverse of the path of reciprocation, oppositely disposed rotatable clamping heads mounted on the frame and adapted to removably receive a receptacle between them, a cam rotatably mounted on the frame with its axis concentric with said axis of the frame, means effecting a change of relative position of the cam and frame as the support reciprocates, a pawl and ratchet means operatively connecting the cam and one of said rotatable are clamping heads and adapted to rotate said head with a' step by step movement as the support reciprocates and responsive to the change of relative position of the cam and frame.

8. In a receptacle cleaning apparatus, a reciprocating support, 'a pair. of rotatable barrel head clamping elements on the support in spaced relation, one element comprising a rotatable shank, a cylinder rotatably receiving the shank and slidable relative to the support, a yoke engaging the cylinder, a lug fixed relatively to the su port, a pair of toggle links pivotally engage together, a lug extending laterallyv of the toggle links at their ivotal intersection and in alinement with tile first mentioned lug, one link pivoted on the first mentioned lug and the other link pivotally connected to said yoke, a portable tool having a slot removably engaging the v respective alined lugs and operable to swing the toggle links to open or closed position to vary the respective relation of the two clamping elements.

9. In a receptacle cleaning apparatus, a reciprocating support adapted to receive a barrel with the barrel at a predetermined but variable angle relative to the su port in its normal mid-position of rest, an tilting means operatively associated with the barrel and automatically operative to tilt the barrel from its predetermined angular position relative to the support at the extreme ends of the reciprocating stroke of the support, and means for varying the predetermined angular setting of the barrel during the reciprocation of the support.

10. Barrel washing apparatus for barrels having a longitudinal and a central transverse diametrical horizontal axis comprising means for supporting and reciprocating a barrel so that the central transverse diametrical horizontal axis thereof follows an armate path substantially tangential to the horizontal, said means having a mid position and two extreme positions and supporting the barrel so that a longitudinal axis thereof is parallel to a tangent of the arcuate path at said mid position, and means operable to swing the barrel on said transverse horizontal axis as 1t is moved from the mid positlon to an extreme position to an angular position 

